Three states drop out of “heat and eat” program | Food and Environment Reporting Network

Three states decided not to put up the additional money needed to participate in a program that triggers additional food stamps for people who receive assistance with their utility bills – a program with the nickname “heat and eat,” writes Alan Bjega of Bloomberg. Two of the states, New Jersey and Wisconsin, have Republican governors mentioned as possible candidates for president. The third state is Michigan.

Congress decided as part of the new farm law that states would have to spend at least $20 per household, up from $1 per year, to qualify them for additional food stamps that averaged $1,080 annually. The higher threshold was estimated to save $8.6 billion over a decade by discouraging states from using the program.

While New Jersey, Wisconsin and Michigan decided not to spend the additional money, 13 other states, mostly in the U.S. Northeast, have said they will. House Republican leaders have accused them to exploiting a loophole.

At latest count, 46.5 million people received food stamps with benefits averaging $124.13 per person per month. Enrollment peaked at 47.8 million people in December 2012.